Stripe prohibited and restricted businesses list
Stripe is built for standard e-commerce. Its published Restricted Businesses list bars or gates many high-risk categories, which is why approvals get reversed once volume grows. Here's exactly what Stripe restricts, and the compliant home for each.
Sourced from Stripe's published Prohibited and Restricted Businesses list, last updated 2026-05-13.
Verify on StripeWhat Stripe restricts — and where it belongs
Each category below is one Stripe bars or gates. All of them are businesses Spectrum ePay underwrites.
Why Stripe declines these businesses
Stripe is a payment aggregator: thousands of merchants share its master accounts with card networks and banking partners. To protect those shared accounts it has to keep higher-risk MCCs off the platform or behind extra due diligence — so a category decision, not a decision about your specific business, is usually what's behind a Stripe decline or account limitation.
Spectrum ePay underwrites this to a dedicated high-risk merchant account — 90%+ approvals, USD payouts to your U.S. bank, and a checkout that feels like Stripe.
Merchant accounts we underwrite
If your business is in one of these categories, the Stripe decision was a category decision — not a decision about your business.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between prohibited and restricted businesses on Stripe?
A prohibited business is barred from Stripe outright. A restricted business can only process after extra due diligence or Stripe's approval, as with CBD that has negligible THC, firearms, and tobacco or vape. Either way, a category on the list is the usual reason for a decline or a later account limitation.
Does Stripe allow gambling payments?
No. Stripe's list prohibits games of chance and skill that offer a monetary or material prize. Gaming merchants need a high-risk merchant account instead, which Spectrum ePay underwrites.
Why did Stripe close or limit my account after approving it?
Stripe often approves at signup and reviews later. When volume grows, risk systems re-check your MCC against the Restricted Businesses list — if the category is restricted or prohibited, the account is limited or closed. A dedicated high-risk merchant account is underwritten to your model up front, so approval is stable instead of reversed.
Does Stripe accept CBD payments?
Only with approval. CBD with only negligible THC is a restricted (regulated) category that needs Stripe's approval; CBD above the local THC limit, and cannabis generally, is prohibited. Spectrum ePay underwrites compliant CBD and hemp merchants directly.
Can I get a merchant account for a business Stripe prohibits?
Yes. The categories on Stripe's list are exactly the ones a high-risk specialist underwrites. Spectrum ePay places these to dedicated merchant accounts with 90%+ approvals and USD payouts to your U.S. bank.
Compare other processors
See how Spectrum compares, and which businesses each processor turns down.
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